SEIU Files Federal Lawsuit Against A California Local Alleging Financial Misconduct – 04/30/08 By Doug Cunningham
SEIU International has sued its California United Health Care West affiliate in federal court, alleging financial misconduct against ten officers of the California local. The suit alleges that UHW-W President Sal Rosselli and nine other officers diverted $3 million of UHW-W dues money to a fund they created and control.
The suit accuses the UHW-W officers of creating the fund under false pretenses to have access to money to fight any attempt by SEIU International to take over the local union.
SEIU International spokesperson Andrew McDonald says, “The highest ranking UHW-W officers used millions of dollars in members’ dues money to run a shadow operation off the books and they intentionally deceived their own members and the federal government about how the money would be used.” Rosselli calls the suit a “PR circus” and a waste of dues money.

Economic Report: Public Sector Hiring Up In Midst Of Bad Economy – 05/01/08 Economic Report:
Ready for some positive economic news? The public sector is hiring new workers faster than it has in six years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics federal, state, and local governments added 76,800 jobs during the first quarter of 2008. The hiring helps cushion the 286,000 jobs lost in the private sector during the first three months of the year.

Retail Workers Union Reaches Tentative Deal At Bloomingdale’s – 05/01/08 A tentative agreement has been reached between Bloomingdale’s Manhattan store and workers represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Last week the 2,000 workers authorized strike action if an agreement could not be reached. The two sides plan to negotiate for two more weeks on health benefits, but will ratify the rest of the contract today.

GM Won’t Intervene In Two-Month Old American Axle Strike – 05/01/08 By Doug Cunningham
GM says it doesn’t want any part in settling the American Axle strike, despite the fact that the strike has cost GM $800 million and the lost production of 100,000 vehicles. The UAW strike was triggered by American Axle’s demand to slash wages in half and end future retiree pensions and health benefits.

Is Wal-Mart Reneging On Promise To Shank Family? – 05/01/08 By Doug Cunningham
Wal-Mart has not kept its word to the Shank family. The company sued the family trying to get a trust fund settlement used to pay for medical care of a woman who suffered brain injuries in an auto accident. Despite announcing it was dropping its lawsuit, Wal-Mart still has the $200,000 left in the medical trust tied up so the family still can’t use it to pay for Debbie Shank’s medical costs.

Truckers Stage National Slowdown Over Diesel Prices – 05/01/08 Few feel the skyrocketing fuel prices more than the truckers who keep the product flowing along our nation’s highways. This May 1 they are asking for solidarity from drivers across the country. Jesse Russell reports:
Long-haul truckers are putting on the brakes today and are asking other drivers to join them. Diesel fuel prices have reached a record of $4.20 per gallon in some places and the average tractor trailer takes 125-gallons to fill a tank. The long haulers don’t feel that Washington is hearing their plight and over the month of April they have been launching guerilla slow downs in some the country’s biggest cities by driving five miles per hour below the speed limit.

Longshore Workers Proud Of May Day Antiwar Action – 05/01/08 By Doug Cunningham
Despite efforts by employers to stop it, longshore union workers in California are going ahead with their planned work stoppage Thursday to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jack Heyman of ILWU Local 10 expects the ports to be shut down during the day shift May 1st.
[Heyman]: “This action on May Day is a culmination of our internationalist perspective, and we’re really proud that we’re actually going to be doing this.”

Long Shore Workers Proud Of May Day Antiwar Action – 05/01/08 By Doug Cunningham
Despite efforts by employers to stop it, long shore union workers in California are going ahead with their planned work stoppage Thursday to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jack Heyman of ILWU Local 10 expects the ports to be shut down during the day shift May 1st.
[Heyman[: “This action on May Day is a culmination of our internationalist perspective, and we’re really proud that we’re actually going to be doing this.”

‘Confessions of a Sweatshop Inspector’ Shows Need for Standards in Trade Deals Both Democratic presidential candidates and a majority of the American public believe U.S. trade deals should include assurances that workers are paid a decent wage and can work in safe conditions. But until such provisions become part of trade agreements and are enforced, private corporations who contract with foreign suppliers hold the reins.
In response to press reports and demands by consumers, workers, students and human rights groups, many major companies created codes of conduct to try to ensure their products are produced “ethically.” But do those codes really work?
In this month’s Washington Monthly magazine, T.A. Frank, a former sweatshop inspector or “corporate social responsibility monitor,” describes what it’s like on the ground for those who are charged with enforcing codes of conduct.